Control system.



K. A. SIMMON 6L A. J. HALL.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPucAnoN HLED1uNE9.1914.

1,233,41 2. Patented .my 17, 1917.

I l l I l I HmwLmw ITNEssEs: lNvENToRs ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE.

KARL A. SIMMON AND ARTHUR J. HALL, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN- OBS T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING CGMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 17, 1917 Application inea June e, 1914. seriai N5. 843,931.

.reference to systems that are adapted for multiple-unit operation of electric railway vehicles which are propelled by polyphase induction motors and governed through the agency of liquid rheostats. v

One of the'objects of our invention is to provide a system of the above-indicated class which shall embody a liquid rheostat that is connected to the secondary winding ofa polyphase induction motor, and the action of which is manually controlled during the irst portion of the accelerating period, after which, automatic operation and regulation thereof is effected.

In another aspect, an object of our invention is to provide a system of the multipleunit type which embodies a plurality of driving motors or sets of mechanically associated motors having separate and independent governing liquid rheostats which are initially manually controlled concurrently and which are adapted to be automaticallyy regulated by means of current-limit relays, under predetermined conditions', whereby the respective loads taken by the various motors or mechanically' connected sets of motors shall be substantially equal, irrespective of slight diiferences in mechanical construction, operating conditions and diameters of driving wheels. l

In electric locomotives that are provided with a plurality of driving trucks, each having a polyphase induction motor or set of motors which are mechanically associated with the driving wheels, it is often desirable to manually control the operation of the driving motors concurrently bythe means of a single master controller and liquid rheostats or other resistance devices which are severally associated with the respective driving motors or sets of drivingv motors. However, on account of the numerous variables in the apparatus associated with the respective driving trucks, such as differences in mechanical construction of the inotors, liquid rheostats, and opeiating mechanisms, and in diiferences in diameters of driving wheels, as well as the densities of the electrolytes, and their rates of flow, `it is evident that, during the manual control of the locomotive, the loads are not necessarily, and, in fact, are not usually divided evenly between the driving motors oi sets of motors. Y

`When the load is light, these differences are relatively unimportant, but, when the motors are loaded to substantially their full capacity, it is desirable to provide means for effecting a substantially equal division of the load, irrespective of the differences which have been enumerated. Moreover, it is advantageous to` provide switches for sliertcirciiiting the iheostats when all of the sccondary resistances have been eliminated ,from circuit, and, for best operation, provision should be made for closing the sliertcircuitingk switches only under predetermined circuit conditions.

According to our invention, we propose to overcome the difhculties liereinbefore nientioned, and to make adequate provisions for accomplishing the ends which have been set forth as desirable.n

For the sake of simplicity, we have illustrated our invention in connection with a single driving motor and its associated liquid rheostat, although we have illustrated a system of the multiple-unit type which is capable of being associated with other similar systems through the agency of train line conductors, in a manner that is well known to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a diagrammatic view of the main circuits and apparatus of a system of control embodying our invention, and Fig. 2 is a -similar view of the auxiliary control circuits and control devices for governing the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Referring tothe drawing, a plurality of supply circuit conductors l, 2 and 3 deliver alternating current polyphase energy "through a suitable line switch l to primary electrodes 8 of a liquid rheostat 9, the operamosphere.

electro-pneumatic mechanism 10. A plurality of switches and y are provided for short-circuiting the secondary windings 7 'of the motor 6, and a plurality of currentlimit relays marked fHigh limit and Low limit are employed for the purpose of autovInatically controlling the operation of the mechanism 10 under predetermined conditions.

The liquid rheostat -9 may be of any wellknown construction and preferably embodies a ltank 12 having an inlet opening 13 for continuously admitting electrolyte, and a bottom outlet opening 14 for discharging the electrolyte into a main receiving reservoir 15, a plurality of tubular concentric valve members 16 and 17 which are relatively movable, the valve 16 being adapted to close the outlet or the discharge opening 14 and the valve 17 being adapted to regulate the height of the electrolyte within the tank 12. 5

The operating .mechanism r10 comprises a cylinder 20 having a movable piston 21 which is mechanically associated through a rod 22 with the discharge valve 16, said valve 16 being normally maintained in its upper position by a spring 24. 'An electrically operated valve 25 controls the admission and release of a suitable operating fluid, such as compressed air, to and vfrbm the operating cylinder 20. Said valve 25 is so constructed that, under normal conditions, with its energizing coil 27 inactive, the supply of operating fluid is cut ofi', and the-cylinder 20 is open to the atmosphere.

rlhe regulating valve 17 is connected, by means of a rod 30, to a piston 31 that is movable within an operatinglv cylinder 32 .which is provided witha plurality of electrically controlled valves marked O' and 0n, the off valve controlling the admission of operating uid to the upper end of the cylinder 32 and the on valve performing a similar function with respect to the lower end of said cylinder. `The off valve, when denergized, admits operating fluid to the cylinder 32 and thus normally tends to maintain the piston 31 in its lowest position, while ltle on valve when deenergized effects communication between the lower end of the yfcylinder 32 and the at- Obviously, when both the off and the "on valves are energized, operating fluid is admitted beneath the piston 31 and released above it, whereby unbalanced pressure conditions obtain which move the piston 31 and its associated regup lating valve 17 inan upward direction until the off valve is denergized, when balanced pressure conditions result, and the pist0n31 and regulating valve 17 are brought to rest.

' An auxiliary control drum 35 is mechanically associated with the rod 30 by means of .rack 36 and pinion 37 whereby said drum a, b, c, d and e. The stationary contact terminals 44 to 47, inclusive, of the master controller 40 are connected, respectively, to a plurality .of train line conductors 44a, 45a, 46a and 47, which'are respectively connected to a plurality of stationary Contact terminals 44h, 45h, 462471, 44C, 45C, 46c, and 47C ofthe auxiliary controller 35 embodying a plurality of movable conducting segments 50. and 51 .which are adapted to coperatively engage the contact terminals 44b to 47b and .44 to 47c along the position-indieating lines a, b, c, d and e. Stationary contact terminal 42 of the master controller 40 is connected to one terminal 'B+ of a battery B, or other suitable source of energy, while the terminal 43 isconnected to a train line conductor vB- through the energizing .coil 27 of the valve 25.

The low limit relay is adapted to be connected; in circuit with the energizing coil of the off valve, and the high limit relay to be effective in controlling the energy of the coil of the on valve when-the movable conducting segments 50 and 51 are moved into their positions d and e, respectively. The low limit relay is connected between the off valve coil and a contact terminal 54 and is normally short-circuited by a conductor 55 connected to a contact terminal 56, while the high limit relay is connected between the on valve vcoil and a contact terminal 57 andl is normally shortcircuitedby conductor 58 having a connection to contact terminal 59.

Energizing coils m and y of the short- Acircuiting switches and y are connected between the B train line conductor and contact terminal 47, provided the auxiliary master controller 40 is first moved into its position a, thereby. completing a circuit from one side of the battery B, which includes l stationary contact terminals 42 and 43, that are bridged by the conducting segment 41, and,thence, through energizing coil 27 of the valve 25 to the train line conductor B-.

The valve 25 is thereby opened to admit i and closed. The electrolyte which is continuously flowing through the inlet opening 13 into the rheostatvtank 12, therefore, rises in the rheostat to a height corresponding to the upper end of the regulating valve 17, at which height the lower ends of the electrodes 8 are immersed. A circuit is thus completed through the secondary windings 7 of the motor 6, and said motor is started while another circuit is established from contact terminal 44c which includes conducting segment 51, contact terminal 59, conductor 58 and the on energizing coil to the train line conductor B-. Thus, thel energizing coils of the off and on valves are energized, and said valves are accordingly actuv ated, whereby operating fluid is admitted through the on valve beneath the piston 31 and is released through the 0E valve from above said piston.

Balanced pressure conditions are thus ob` tained and further movement of the regulating valve 17 is prevented. The continuously flowing electrolyte, therefore, rises in the rheostat tank 12 to a level corresponding to the new position of the regulating valve 17, the excess thereof overliowing into the reservoir 15. The motor secondary resistance is thus reduced and the speed increased. v y

To further increase the speed of the motor 6, the master controller 40 is moved to position c in which the contact terminal 45, train line conductor 45a and Contact terminals 45b and 45 are energized, and a circuit is completed from contact terminal 45b through conducting segment 50 and contact terminal 56 and thence through the olf energizing coil, as hereinbefore described. Thus,the off valve is actuated to cut ofi" the supply of' operating fluid and to establish a communication from the upper end of the cylinder 32 to the atmosphere. As the operating fluid pressure is reduced above the piston 31, said piston is again moved upwardly until the control drum 35 has reached its position c in which contact terminal 45b is disengaged from the conducting segment tion.

50 and hence denergizes the olf valve coil. The off valve then returns to its normal position to again admit operating fluid above the piston 31 and to arrest further movement. Thus, it is seen that the regulating valve 17 is raised to another deinite position and a new level of electrolyte is established within the rheostat tank 12. It is, of course, possible to have any desired number ,of steps similar to those just described by suitably designing the auxiliary control drum 35 and master controller 40.

Let it be assumed now that the motor load is relatively large and that. the level of the electrolyte within the rheostat has been raised to within a comparatively short distance of its maximum level. A further increase of speed of the motor 6 may be effected by moving the master controller 40 to position d, in which contact terminal 46, train line conductor 46 and contact terminals 46h and 46c are energized, and a circuit is established from contact terminal 46b through conducting segment 504 and the energizing coil of the olf valve, in the manner already described. As the off valve is energized and caused to release the operating uid from above the piston 31, said piston and associated regulating valve 17 are raised. However, as the control drum 35 is moved out ofposition o, the contact terminal 56 becomes disengaged from the conducting segment 50 which causes the energizing current to traverse contact terminal 54 and thence, through the coperating switch members of the low limit relay and the olf energizing coil, to the train conductor B-. As soon as this action takes place, further operation of the rheostat is rendered automatic and dependent upon the action of the low limit relay which is traversed by the primary motor current.

If the motor current is less than the value for which the low limit relay is set, the

operation continues as before and the regulating valve is raised lto its maximum posi- However, if the motor current is vgreater than said value, the coperating switch members of the low limit relay are disengaged and the olf valve coil is deenergized, whereby further upward movement of the regulating valve 17 is prevented until the motor current has been reduced sulliciently to permit the low limit relay to again assume its normal position, 1n which the olf valve coil is again energized and the upward movement of the valve 17 is resumed. The operation, therefore, is entirely automatic and independent of the master controller, provided, of course, that said controller is placed in position el or e.

When the regulating valve 17 has been raised sulliciently to move the controller drum 35 beyond its position (l, the contact terminal 59 becomes disengaged from the A ing coil.

conducting segment 51 and a circ-uit is completed from contact terminal 57 which includes the coperating switch members of the high limit relay and the on energiz- The high limit relay is thus brought into action and becomes effective in denergizing the on valve coil, provided the current in the motor is greater than an excessively high value for which said device is adjusted.

. Under these conditions, both the low limit relay and the high limit relay are raised to denergize the off and the on valve coils. Thus, pressure is admitted above the piston 31 and released from beneath it, and the piston and the regulating 'sure above the piston, andI the upward movement of the regulating Valve is resumed until it occupies its uppermost position, in which the auxiliary interlock switch 34 completesa circuit from contact terminal 47 which includes the energizing coils m and y of Athe short-circuiting switches m and y. Upon the completion of this circuit, said short-circuiting switches and y are closed and all of the motor secondary resistance is excluded from circuit, in which case, full operatin speed is attained.

From the oregoing description, it will be understood that the motor 6 is manually controlled through'the liquid rheostat 9 during the rst portion of the accelerating period,

-while automatic operation and regulation thereof is effected during the last portion thereof just prior to the closure of the shortcircuiting switches, which switches can only be closed when the motor current is maintained within predetermined limits.

The system, as set forth, is adapted for multiple-unit operation, and if employed upon a locomotive or other electrically controlled vehicle, such as is hereinbefore referred to, itis clear that the load will be equally divided between the several independent driving units or sets of units, under substantially full-load conditions, irrespective of, any mechanicalor electrical differences in the'l driving units, associated operating mechanisms or driving wheels.

Our invention is not, of course, restricted troller for manually controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means, of means for rendering said manually controlled means dependent upon lcircuit conditions when said controller occupies a predetermined position.

2.' In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, an accelerating resistance therefor, 4means for adjusting saidl resistance, and means for manually controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means, of electro-responsive means for controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means, -and' means for bringing said electro-responsive means into action under predetermined conditions.

3. In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, an accelerating resistance therefor, `means for adjusting said resistance, and means for manually controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means, of a current-limit relay dependent upon the current traversing said motor for automatically controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means, said limit relay being initially inactive, and means associated with said manual controlling means for rendering said limit relay effective when said controlling means occupies a vpredetermined position.

4. In a` control system, the combination with an electric motor, an accelerating resistance therefor, means for adjusting said resistance, and means for manually controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means, of a plurality of initially inactive electro-responsive devices adapted to be rendered active under predetermined conditions for automatically controlling the action of said resistance-adjusting means.

5. In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, and power-actuated apparatus for governing the acceleration thereof, of means for manually controlling said lpower-actuated apparatus during the first portion of the accelerating period and for automatically controlling said apparatus during the latter portion thei'eof in accordance with circuit conditions.

6. In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, power-operated apparatus for governing the acceleration thereof, a control drum mechanically associated with said apparatus and actuated-thereby,

and a master controller electrically connect-A ed to said apparatus through said control drum for -manually controlling the operation of said apparatus during-a portion of its operation, of electro-responsive means associated with said control drum for automatically controlling said apparatus during another portion of its operation in accord- Vance with circuit conditions.

' troller for causing said apparatus to move into a series of denite predetermined positions corresponding to positions of the master controller, of means rendered operative by said control drum inI a' predetermined position for automatically regulating the action of said apparatus in accordance With circuit conditions.

ofi said mechanism in accordance with cir-l cuit conditions.

9. In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, a liquid rheostat for governing the acceleration thereof and having a movable member adapted to X the height of electrolyte therein, a power-operated -device for actuating said movable member, and manually-controlled means for governing the operation of said vactuating device, of means for rendering the control of said power device automatic in accordance with circuit conditions when said movable member reaches a predetermined height.

10. In a control system the combination with an electric motor, a liquid rheostat for governing the acceleration thereof and having a movable member adapted to fix the height of electrolyte therein, a power-oper- -ated device for actuating said movable meinber, and manually controlled means, for governing the operation of'said actuating device, of electro-responsive means for automatically governing the operation of said actuating device under predetermined circuit conditions and means for rendering said electro-responsive means eiective at a predetermined height of said movable member.

11. In a control system, the combination with an electric motor, a liquid rheostat for governing the acceleration thereof and having a movable member adapted to x the height of electrolyte therein, an eleotropneumatic operating mechanism for actuating said movable member, an auxiliary control drum operated by said mechanism, and a manually-operated master controller coperating therewith for governing the operation of said operatingv mechanism and causing the electrolyte to be fixed at any of a plurality of predetermined heights, of automatic means adapted to be rendered active under predetermined circuit conditions When the electrolyte level is at a predetermined height for regulating the action of said mechanism, and means 4for short-circuiting said motor when said mechanism occupies its highest position.

12. In a system of multiple-unit control for electric motors, the combination with a plurality of motors, and a liquid rheostat for each motor for independently governing its acceleration, of manually-controlled means for concurrently governing the operation of the several rheostats during the first portion of the accelerating period, and

means for independently and automatically controlling the several rheostats in accordance with circuit conditions during the latter portion of the accelerating period.

13. In a control system, the combination With electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, and means embodying a control device for manually controlling the operation of said regulating means, of means for rendering said manually controlled means automatic in accordance withcircuit conditions when said control device occupies a predetermined position.

14. In a control system, the combination with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, and means for manually controlling the action of said regulating means, of electro-responsive means for controlling the action of said regulating means, and means for bringing said electro-responsive means into action under predetermined conditions.

15. In a control system,the combination with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, and means for manually controlling the action of said regulating means, of means for rendering said manually controlled means automatic in accordance with circuit conditions when said regulating means occupies a predetermined position.

16.In a control system, the combination with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said appa-v ratus, and means for manually controlling the action of said regulating means, of an and means associated with said manual controlling means for rendering said relay effective when said controlling means Occupies a predetermined position.

17. In a control system, the combinationv with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, and means for manually controllmg the action of said regulating means, of a plurality of initially .inactive electro-responsive devices adapted to be renderedactive under predetermined conditions forautomatically controlling the action of 'said regulating means.

18.A In a control system, the combination with electrical apparatus, and regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, of means for manually controlling said regulating means during the first portion of the governing period and forautomatically controlling said regulating means during the latter portion thereof in accordance with circuit conditions.

19. In a control system, the combination with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, and means for manually controlling .the action of said regulating means durin the first portion of the governing period, o a plurality of current relays for automatically controlling the action of said regulating means during the latter portion of said period in accordance with circuit conditions.

20. In a control system, the combination with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governin the operation of said appa.- ratus, switchlng means associated with said regulating means and actuated thereby, and a controlling device electrically connected to said regulating means through said switching means for manually controlling the operation of said switching means during a portion of its operation, of electro-res onsive means associated with said switc ing means for automatically controlling said.

regulating means during another portion of its operation and in accordance with circuit conditions.

21. In a control system, the combination with electrical apparatus, regulating means for governing the operation of said apparatus, a master controller for controlling the operation of said regulating means and an `auxiliary control drum adapted to be actuated by said regulating means and to cooperate withsaid `master controller vfor causing said regulating'means to move in a series of delinite predetermined positions corresponding to positions of sai master controller, of means rendered operative bysaid control drum in a predetermined position thereof for automatically governlng the action of said device in accordance with circuit conditions.

23.- The combination withza movable member, a power operated device for actuating said member, and manuallycontrolled means for governing the operation of said actuating device, of means for rendering the control of said power device automatic in accordance with circuit conditions when said movable member position. i

24. The combination with a liquid-containing tank, a movable valve disposed therein and adapted to x the height of the liquid, a power operated device for actuating said v alve and manually controlled means for governing the operation of said actuating device, of means for rendering the control oi said power device automatic in accordance with circuit conditions when said valve reaches a predetermined height.

25. The combination with a movable member, a power operated device for actuating said movable member, and manually controlled means for governing the'operation' of said actuating device, of electro-respons1ve means for automatically govermng the operation of said-actuating devlce under ,predetermined circuit conditions and means occupies apredetermined z liquid therein, a pneumatically operated mechanism for actuating said valve, an auX- `iliary control drum operated by said mechanism, and a manually operated master swltch coperatmg therewlth for governing and causing the liquid to be xed at any of a plurality of .predetermined heights, 01'

Athe operation of said operating mechanism for each motor for independently governing its acceleration, of manually controlled ln testimony whereof, We have hereunto means for concurrently governing the opersubscribed our names this 23rd day cf May, l@

ation of said regulating means during the 1914.

first portion of the accelerating periodyand l i 'KARL A. Slm/IGN. p 5 means for independently and automatically ARTHUR J. HALL.

controlling the several regulating means in Witnesses: accordance kWith circuit conditions during H. T. MORRIS, the latter portion of the accelerating period. B. B. HINES. 

